Bethpage, New York

Bethpage is a hamlet and a census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, USA. The population was 16,543 at the 2000 census.

Bethpage is within the Town of Oyster Bay with its own school district. The Zip Code for most of the hamlet is 11714, though the most northeastern part of Bethpage is in the Old Bethpage postal district of 11804.

History

Early names for the area include Bedelltown, Jerusalem, and Jerusalem Station. From about 1867 until 1936 it was known as Central Park. For many years Bethpage was home to the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, which made, among other things, the F-14 Tomcat and the Apollo Lunar Module for moon landings. (Bethpage is thus mentioned in the film Apollo 13.) Cablevision Systems Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is headquartered in Grumman's former main office.

Geography

Bethpage is located at (40.746699, -73.484318).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.4 km² (3.6 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,543 people, 5,710 households, and 4,516 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,764.4/km² (4,564.5/mi²). There were 5,788 housing units at an average density of 617.3/km² (1,597.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.17% White, 0.29% African American, 0.02% Native American, 2.99% Asian, 1.00% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.75% of the population.

There were 5,710 households out of which 32% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $70,173, and the median income for a family was $78,573. Males had a median income of $53,404 versus $36,708 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,850. About 2.1% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Football

Bethpage has become famous among New York high school varsity football teams for being the home of an outstanding football program, having won 10 Nassau County and 5 Long Island Championships since 1984 when the playoffs expanded to four teams. The tradition of Bethpage football started in 1952 when Howard C. Vogts created the first team, and he has since become New York State’s all-time winningest high school varsity football coach. Vogts' remarkable career record stands at 333-112-10 mark in 52 seasons (as of 2005). Bethpages long standing homefield win streak ended when they lost to the 2004 Wantagh Warriors 24-0.

Other Points of Interest

Bethpage was the home of the Grumman plant that produced the Apollo Lunar Modules, or LEMs.

Bethpage State Park hosted the United States Open (golf) in 2002 and will play host to the event again in 2009. While much of the park and its five golf courses are located within Bethpage and Old Bethpage, the offices are within the neighboring Farmingdale postal district.

External links

Bethpage Community
Newsday article on Bethpage
Encyclopedia of the Unincorporated Village of Bethpage
More Bethpage History
1903 map showing Bethpage as Central Park - includes Bethpage Junction of LIRR, and a creek from area that emptied into the Atlantic